When is an elopement right for you and should you elope?
Firstly if that’s what you want, then it’s right for you, and we could even say that that’s the only reason you need. However, if you’re caught up thinking you don’t know what you want and you feel the pressure of planning your wedding and you just feel like you’ve got to get out of here, maybe eloping is starting to sound like the thing for you.
Or on the flip side maybe you started your planning knowing you wanted something small and intimate.
It just felt right.
What does it even mean to “elope” anymore?
Sure, eloping used to mean getting married in secret somewhere without parental approval and had all sorts of bad connotations with it. Now it means something else entirely. Now eloping is getting married the way you want to. It’s untraditional. Intimate. It’s still receiving love and support from your family even if they’re not present the day-of. Having an adventure. It’s doing something you love doing together.
My definition: Elopement – an intentional and intimate wedding experience focused on the couple.
So is an elopement right for you?
- Do you want to have the freedom to spend your day however you want to?
- Do you want it to be just the two of you? (and your photographer?)
- Do you want to skip family or friends group drama?
- Do you want to create a unique wedding day with your spouse?
- Do you want to elope just because?
If so, for any of those reasons, you can do it. No one needs to give you permission to elope vs having a big wedding.
And if you think eloping is all hiking, and hills, and being out of shape, I promise, it’s so much more and you don’t have to hike unless you want to!
For example, a non-hiking elopement day in Wisconsin could look like this:
You go to Bayfield, WI. You plan to tour the Apostle Islands by ferry and then go over to Madeline Island to elope on the beaches of Lake Superior. You’ve gotten a room at the Madeline Island Inn. You get dressed in your chosen wedding attire and gather your vows and then head to your chosen spot on the beach.
The waves crash over the rocks. You stand facing your partner, with vows in hand, ready to begin. Sunset comes and you start your ceremony as red and orange sunlight spreads over the beach. Afterwards you eat a romantic picnic dinner for two and dance on the beach as the stars come out. You return to your room at the Inn, and you’ve done it! You’re now married and you both had the time of your lives!
You should have the wedding experience you want – how you want, where you want, with whom you want.
Get in touch with me to know more about elopement photography for your wedding day.